THERE are more than 3,000 road accidents a year involving horses and, as horse riding is one of Britain's fastest growing pastimes, riders and motorists alike want horses off the roads. Frank Elson finds out about a Bolton group working towards safer riding.

IT was not so long ago that the horse was king for personal transport.

The car has only been around for just over 100 years -- and it was a long time after its invention before there were more cars than horses.

Today, however, the horse is not only relegated to a hobby, it is very much a second class form of transport when on the road. Yet horse riding is on the increase with more than three million Britons getting into the saddle.

More than 90 per cent of riders are women and children and, to go with the increase in riders, accidents on the roads are also increasing. In one part of Bolton, however, riders are trying to redress the balance.

The Smithills and District Bridleways Association is working to develop riding in the Smithills area.

"We aim to improve riding opportunities, off the road where possible, to promote safety for riders and to work on the development of more riding routes," said secretary Kellie Morrissey.

"We have been lucky in having the support of Richard Masters, the local countryside ranger. And Bolton Council's rights of way office helps when it can."

Rights of way is often a controversial issue these days and, while acknowledging council help on the one hand, the group is also battling the town hall on the other, having "lost" the bridleway status of two lanes in Horwich.

"We are campaigning to have these lanes re-opened," said Kellie. "One is a an ancient packhorse route that has been there for hundreds of years. To claim it as a footpath and stop horses using it is ridiculous."

While, nationally, bridleways trusts find themselves campaigning to save ancient tracks which walkers and councils want downgraded to footpath status, this is not generally a problem for riders in Bolton.

"We are mainly aimed at promoting safety for riders and awareness among motorists," said Kellie. "This really came to the fore during the foot and mouth crisis when farmland was a no go area and more riders were forced on to the roads.

"I'm sorry to say it, but bus drivers are by far the worst for horses. You could almost believe they try to speed up and get as close as possible when overtaking.

"Although we haven't had any bad accidents locally, more than 3,000 a year involving horses are reported in Britain, with more than half involving the horse being hit from behind. Everyone I know who rides can tell you a tale of near misses."

There is no doubt, then, that motorists and riders alike want to get as many horses as possible off the tarmac and on to bridleways.

To this end the group, with 52 members and growing, is grateful to the countryside rangers and council officials who are trying to help, particularly in the Smithills Country Park area, by identifying areas where horses can travel in peace -- and without causing problems for walkers.

"We do not deny that hooves can churn up wet and soft areas and so, while we appreciate the rangers' efforts in helping to get hardcore surfacing laid. We try to reciprocate by asking our members to avoid damp areas.

"We appreciate that walkers do not want to wade through mud, but it is worth pointing out that there are only four bridleways in Bolton, and more than 400 footpaths."

The group's safety initiative has recently received a boost with a grant of £500 from the Smithills Area Forum, which has been spent on buying yellow fluorescent jackets.

"Every horse rider should wear one of these when on the road," said Kellie.

Another, potentially exciting development for the group has, for the moment taken some of them out of the saddle and into their own walking boots.

"The Pennine Bridleway is a superb long-distance route, closely aligned to the Pennine Way footpath," said Kellie.

"Its closest point to Bolton is near Rochdale and members have been walking different routes in a bid to find a Bolton connection to the Pennine Bridleway. That is a long term project, but extremely exciting."

Horse riders in the Smithills area are definitely being well-looked after!

SADDLE UP AND STAY SAFE

90pc of horse riders are women and children

Riding is often the only way women feel safe going into the countryside

Horse riders come from all ages, social and cultural backgrounds

There are eight horse-related accidents on the roads every day

100 horses are killed on the roads each year